thinking about going the commercial studio route

Hi guys,

After a lot of thought I'm considering recording some solo guitar arrangements in a commercial recording studio rather than investing time and money in a home studio. I can get a 10 hour weekday slot for $500 CAD at an established local studio with nice rooms, quality gear and experienced staff. I would do a tour and chat first before committing to a session. Based on my prior studio experiences I think I could get a 1-3 short tunes in the can in a 10 hour session. I do like the studio experience and getting to leave the technical side to someone else.

Opinions? Warnings? Encouragement?

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

I do like the studio experience and getting to leave the technical side to someone else.

Well, there's that. There is certainly a learning curve for setting up a home studio.

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Based on my prior studio experiences I think I could get a 1-3 short tunes in the can in a 10 hour session.

For your own enjoyment? For family and friends? As a demo on your way to the big time?

Originally Posted by DCCougar

For your own enjoyment? For family and friends? As a demo on your way to the big time?

Me and family and friends and soundcloud. A "vanity project". The big time bypassed me long ago.

[jklotz]

There is no wrong or right to it. If that is something that you want to do, go for it.

I guess it just depends on what triggers your creativity the most. Personally, I feel constrained in that enviornment. I don't like the "I better nail it this time because the clock is ticking" feeling. But others thrive with that. It brings out their best.

These days, studio rates are fairly inexpensive. Heck, a day of studio time is cheaper than just about any guitar that is talked about on this forum. It'd probably be a great experience for you.

[Bob Womack]

Hi! I am a recording engineer/producer as well as a guitarist. If you decide to go into a professional studio, I've made up a list of things to think about before that first session. It is HERE. When you do your tour of the facility, ask for examples of their work, especially examples in the same genre as your music, so you can get a feel for how well they do the job.

All the best and enjoy the experience!

Bob

[j3ffr0]

Sound like you know what you are doing and what it takes. There is definitely some appeal in leaving the tech to a pro. Seems like a decent rate too.

Good luck with your sessions.

[Captain Jim]

I've been playing for over 50 years, only starting home recording a few years ago. I think $500 for a day in a professional environment would be "tuition" well-spent, with a quality end product.

If you decide to treat yourself to this, it would be interesting to to read about your experience and hear the finished product.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

Hi! I am a recording engineer/producer as well as a guitarist. If you decide to go into a professional studio, I've made up a list of things to think about before that first session. It is HERE. When you do your tour of the facility, ask for examples of their work, especially examples in the same genre as your music, so you can get a feel for how well they do the job.

All the best and enjoy the experience!

Bob

I trust Bob's comment and list.

One thing - do you still have to pay mixing/mastering afterwards? Do you need any session musicians? (i.e. drums / bass) or is it just you with guitar and possibly vocals?

Aside from that, I say go for it.

[Rudy4]

The room acoustics, equipment choices, and expertise of going the hired gun route are certainly advantageous, but it's a lot of overkill for a simple solo recording.

Fran Guidry's http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/ website has a lot of great information for doing "simple" recordings that would dovetail nicely into this sort of project.

I know it seems to be a daunting task, but being able to record at your leisure with no pressure, no timetable, and no budgetary constraints has a lot to offer.

Absolutely nothing wrong with going the commercial route, but with the relatively low priced home recording gear available to us all today a pro studio might be a bit more resource-wise than what's needed to get a good end result.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

... I've made up a list of things to think about before that first session. It HERE.

Good list. RE #2, weed is even worse in that regard. As for #7, leaving the spouse at home may cost you even more than $500 in quid pro quo, but it'll be money well spent.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Hi guys,

After a lot of thought I'm considering recording some solo guitar arrangements in a commercial recording studio rather than investing time and money in a home studio. I can get a 10 hour weekday slot for $500 CAD at an established local studio with nice rooms, quality gear and experienced staff. I would do a tour and chat first before committing to a session. Based on my prior studio experiences I think I could get a 1-3 short tunes in the can in a 10 hour session. I do like the studio experience and getting to leave the technical side to someone else.

Opinions? Warnings? Encouragement?

Absolutely a viable option because, IMO it takes a number or years to get enough experience recording and mixing to get even average commercial results (I may be a slow learner and my own worst critic but ) It took me about 5 years before I could even stand my own productions .

I have only recorded in a professional studio 3 times. Once in the San Francisco Bay area,, once in Nashville,, and once in NYC.

And the key IMO to make it a great experience for all concerned IS make sure you are completely prepared and totally well practiced on the material. In fact I would suggest that you be able to play your material repeatedly with virtually no mistakes in the DARK before you step into a studio .

And 10 hours is probably way more than enough (IF you have practiced enough)
In SF I did two songs in two hours.... In NYC 10 songs in 4 hours.... And in Nashville 4 full blown demo songs with 4 session musicians in a 2 hour session and then another 2 hours the next day with overdubbing vocals

Thank you everyone for your responses! If this happens it will be summer 2021 thing. I want to be very prepared and have a good feel for what this studio will be like.

Originally Posted by Rudy4

The room acoustics, equipment choices, and expertise of going the hired gun route are certainly advantageous, but it's a lot of overkill for a simple solo recording.

Fran Guidry's http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/ website has a lot of great information for doing "simple" recordings that would dovetail nicely into this sort of project.

I know it seems to be a daunting task, but being able to record at your leisure with no pressure, no timetable, and no budgetary constraints has a lot to offer.

Absolutely nothing wrong with going the commercial route, but with the relatively low priced home recording gear available to us all today a pro studio might be a bit more resource-wise than what's needed to get a good end result.

Hi Rudy,

The wall I keep coming up against is room acoustics and treatments. There is no guarantee that I will tame the space I have to work with. It's a pretty big financial gamble to take. Plus I'm a complete amateur at this and frankly I don't want to spend the next 5 years stressing out and making crappy sounding recordings.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

…Opinions? Warnings? Encouragement?

I think it's a great idea! (opinion)

I see no downside if you find a good studio.

I'll bet with a decent studio you'd not only be more free to just create and play rather than worrying about the details.

I bet you'd learn things to bring back home and record better.




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[TBman]

Originally Posted by J-Doug

Hi guys,

After a lot of thought I'm considering recording some solo guitar arrangements in a commercial recording studio rather than investing time and money in a home studio. I can get a 10 hour weekday slot for $500 CAD at an established local studio with nice rooms, quality gear and experienced staff. I would do a tour and chat first before committing to a session. Based on my prior studio experiences I think I could get a 1-3 short tunes in the can in a 10 hour session. I do like the studio experience and getting to leave the technical side to someone else.

Opinions? Warnings? Encouragement?

I would talk to Islandguitar and Wrighty first before going that route. They seem to get excellent recordings at home without an official home studio.

You do it once (the studio), ok its a treat. But what if there are other tunes you want to record? And after that? And next year and the year after? I'm sure people spend more way than that just playing golf year in and out, but it isn't something I would do.

Granted, my home recordings are a joke so I shouldn't be saying anything, but I think in the long run with the long term cost of multiple sessions I think its a waste of money.

Originally Posted by TBman

but I think in the long run with the long term cost of multiple sessions I think its a waste of money.

It has been said that I have more money than sense...